SULFADIMIDINE METABOLISM IN-VITRO .1. SEX-DIFFERENCES IN ACETYLATION AND HYDROXYLATION IN CULTURED RAT HEPATOCYTES

The hydroxylation and acetylation of 0.5 mM sulphadimidine (SDD) was s tudied in primary cultures of hepatocytes from male and female rats, a nd from castrated male and sham operated male rats. In addition, SDD m etabolism was investigated in hepatocytes from castrated male rats tre ated with testosterone, prior to liver cell isolation. In male rat hep atocytes a significantly higher hydroxylation activity was observed th an in hepatocytes from female and castrated male rats. Acetylation act ivity was higher in females. Testosterone induced hydroxylation but di d not affect acetylation. These results correlate well with data from previous in vivo studies, showing the relevance of this in vitro model .